The Value of Scientific Knowledge Dissemination for Scientists—A Value Capture Perspective

Abstract

Scientific knowledge dissemination is necessary to collaboratively develop solutions to today’s challenges among scientific, public, and commercial actors. Building on this, recent concepts (e.g., Third Mission) discuss the role and value of different dissemination mechanisms for increasing societal impact. However, the value individual scientists receive in exchange for disseminating knowledge differs across these mechanisms, which, consequently, affects their selection. So far, value capture mechanisms have mainly been described as appropriating monetary rewards in exchange for scientists’ knowledge (e.g., patenting). However, most knowledge dissemination activities in science do not directly result in capturing monetary value (e.g., social engagement). By taking a value capture perspective, this article conceptualizes and explores how individual scientists capture value from disseminating their knowledge. Results from our qualitative study indicate that scientists’ value capture consists of a measureable objective part (e.g., career promotion) and a still unconsidered subjective part (e.g., social recognition), which is perceived as valuable due to scientists’ needs. By advancing our understanding of value capture in science, scientists’ selection of dissemination mechanisms can be incentivized to increase both the value captured by themselves and society. Hence, policy makers and university managers can contribute to overcoming institutional and ecosystem barriers and foster scientists’ engagement with society.

The Open Innovation in Science research field: a collaborative conceptualisation approach

“…Andreoli-Versbach and Mueller-Langer 2014; Czarnitzki, Grimpe, and Pellens 2015; Furman and Stern 2011;Mokyr 2002). Data sharing is thus an essential backstop for the scientific principles of credibility and replication, allowing researchers to build more quickly on prior work and allowing data sharers to achieve more visibility and impact (Beck et al 2019;Chan et al 2019;Hossain, Dwivedi, and Rana 2016;Nature editorial 2018;Woelfle, Olliaro, and Todd 2011;Czarnitzki, Grimpe, and Pellens 2015;Borgman 2015). There are two primary paths for data sharing: voluntary data sharing via private communication and public repositories (e.g.…”

“…For example, some publications have found that researchers are more likely to share their research data when a badge indicating whether results have been reproduced or replicated is published along with their article (Kidwell et al 2016), although the evidence here is mixed (Rowhani-Farid, Aldcroft, and Barnett 2020). Scientists are known to place a value on non-monetary rewards that increase their likelihood of succeeding in academia, and which help to validate their identity and to create societal impact (Beck et al 2019).…”

“…The growing prevalence of open and collaborative practices thus exposes the limits of traditional scientometrics, with its focus on citation counts and networks (Mingers and Leydesdorff 2015). Defining and tracking these new outputs, assessing their quality, and allowing their creators to capture value from them, pose significant challenges (Beck et al 2019;Bornmann 2013). While efforts to track and codify more diverse scientific activities are underway (e.g.…”

“…This feature of scientific knowledge production has received comparatively little attention within the OS research field. However, open and collaborative approaches at earlier stages of the scientific research process are increasingly being discussed, suggesting an evolution and expansion of OS priorities (Beck et al 2019;Chan et al 2019;Hossain, Dwivedi, and Rana 2016;Nature editorial 2018;Woelfle, Olliaro, and Todd 2011).…”

Gender As The Missing Component In The Turkish Climate Change Policies And Academic Papers | İklim Değişikliği Politikalarının ve Akademik Makalelerin Toplumsal Cinsiyet Perspektifi Açısından Sorgulanması

“…Academic papers contribute to the production and dissemination of knowledge and academic research is likely to influence policy making (Beck et al, 2019;Boa et al, 2010 This paper has a dual aim of revealing the gender invisibility with regard to climate change in academic literature and in the national climate change policies in Turkey as well as of increasing the academic understanding of gender dimensions of climate change to inform the public policy in the country. I argue that the neglect of gender aspects 4 in relation to climate change reduces the country's ability to respond and adapt to the consequences of climate change, particularly taken into account that women have been identified as important agents of both adaptation and mitigation to climate change (UN, 2018b).…”